2 Best Haunted Attractions at Pumpkin Patches in New Jersey
Jump to: 1. Schaefer Farms 2. A. Casola Farms
The 2 best haunted attractions at pumpkin patches in New Jersey are Schaefer Farms and A. Casola Farms — farms running a haunted hayride, haunted corn maze or haunted trail after dark, alongside the daytime pumpkin patch. Below, each gets a closer look — what it offers, how it's rated, and how to get there — followed by answers to the questions we hear most about visiting. See every pumpkin patch we track in New Jersey, or browse haunted attractions in every state on our Haunted Attractions near me page.
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Schaefer Farms
Schaefer Farms in Flemington takes the top spot, rated 4.1 out of 5 from 212 reviews. Visitors come here for u-pick pumpkins and petting zoo.
1051 County Rd 523, 08822
U-pick pumpkinsPetting zooHaunted attractionFarm storeSchaefer Farms is ranked #1 on this list, located at 1051 County Rd 523, Flemington, NJ, 08822. It carries a 4.1-out-of-5 rating on Google from 212 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Flemington. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for u-pick pumpkins, petting zoo, haunted attraction and farm store, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for Schaefer Farms yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. Schaefer Farms is one of the farms we track with a u-pick pumpkin patch, which typically means true u-pick means walking into a growing field and cutting a pumpkin off the vine yourself. it is the version of the experience most people picture, and it is worth checking for specifically — a great many farms advertis…
Based on its public listing, Schaefer Farms is typically open Monday 9:30AM-5PM, Tuesday 9:30AM-5PM, Wednesday 9:30AM-5PM, Thursday 9:30AM-5PM, Friday 9:30AM-5PM, Saturday 9:30AM-5PM, Sunday 9:30AM-5PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for Schaefer Farms either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. Payment methods aren't listed, and a meaningful share of family-run patches are cash-only for field admission and wagon rides even when the farm store takes cards — bringing some cash as backup avoids an awkward trip back to the car at the gate.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for Schaefer Farms can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
Schaefer Farms sits, near Flemington, NJ, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on Schaefer Farms's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
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A. Casola Farms
A. Casola Farms, out in Holmdel, is next up, rated 3.3 out of 5 from 398 reviews. Visitors come here for hayrides and petting zoo.
178 NJ-34, 07733
HayridesPetting zooHaunted attractionA. Casola Farms is ranked #2 on this list, located at 178 NJ-34, Holmdel, NJ, 07733. It carries a 3.3-out-of-5 rating on Google from 398 reviews, which puts it among the more established pumpkin patches we track near Holmdel. Beyond the pumpkin field itself, it's tagged for hayrides, petting zoo and haunted attraction, so there's usually more to a visit than just picking a pumpkin and heading home.
Google hasn't surfaced a set of recurring review themes for A. Casola Farms yet, so there isn't a themed summary of what visitors say to pass along here — the star rating and review count above remain the clearest public signal until more detail comes in. In the farm's own words: "Nursery offering plants and Christmas trees, plus family-friendly attractions such as a petting zoo and hayrides." A. Casola Farms is one of the farms we track with a hayride, which typically means hayrides run on a loop from the barn out to the pumpkin field, typically ten to twenty minutes, and at many farms they are the only way to reach the picking field at all. some are free with admission, some are a few doll…
Based on its public listing, A. Casola Farms is typically open Monday 8:30AM-4:30PM, Tuesday 8:30AM-4:30PM, Wednesday 8:30AM-4:30PM, Thursday 8:30AM-4:30PM, Friday 8:30AM-4:30PM, Saturday 8:30AM-4:30PM, Sunday 8:30AM-4:30PM. Pumpkin patch hours shift often during the season — expect longer hours the two or three weekends around mid-October and shorter, sometimes weekend-only hours toward either end of the season — so treat this as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee. Admission pricing isn't listed for A. Casola Farms either — pumpkin patches generally charge one of three ways (free entry with pumpkins priced individually or by weight, a flat gate admission bundling attractions, or a per-attraction wristband system), so it's worth asking which applies here before you go. It accepts credit cards and debit cards, though it's still smart to carry some cash — field admission and wagon rides at farms like this are sometimes handled separately from the main store.
Like most working farms, the exact open and close dates for A. Casola Farms can shift year to year with weather and how the pumpkin crop comes in, even though the general window is fairly predictable. If you're planning a special trip, a weekday morning is consistently the quietest time to go, with shorter waits for wagon rides and easier parking than a weekend afternoon. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy — pumpkin fields are working farmland rather than paved lots, and they get soft fast after rain — and call ahead if it's rained heavily in the last day or two, since field access and hayrides are usually the first things a farm closes when the ground is saturated. Layers help too: fall mornings can start cold and warm up quickly once the sun is over an open field.
A. Casola Farms sits, near Holmdel, NJ, with parking typically in a grass field rather than a paved lot — allow a few extra minutes on busy weekends for staff or volunteers to direct traffic, and if you're navigating by GPS rather than the link on this page, search the farm name directly rather than just the street address, since rural addresses sometimes route to the wrong gate. See the full profile — hours table, rating breakdown, review themes, FAQ and a map you can route from — on A. Casola Farms's listing page, or tap Directions below to head straight there.
Conclusion
Schaefer Farms is our top pick for a haunted attraction at a pumpkin patch in New Jersey, rated 4.1 out of 5, with A. Casola Farms rounding out the list. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and haunt nights, ticketing and intensity level vary a lot farm to farm — always confirm directly before you go, especially if you're planning around young kids. For more options, see every pumpkin patch we track in New Jersey.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best haunted attraction at a pumpkin patch in New Jersey?
Based on rating and review volume, Schaefer Farms ranks first among the haunted attractions we track in New Jersey, with a 4.1-out-of-5 rating. See the full breakdown above, or its full listing for hours and directions.
Are farm haunted attractions ticketed separately from daytime admission?
Almost always, yes. Haunted hayrides, haunted corn mazes and haunted trails run in the evening — usually Friday and Saturday from late September — on a separate ticket from the daytime pumpkin patch, and frequently on a different visit entirely rather than the same trip.
Are these haunted attractions appropriate for young kids?
It varies far more than at a commercial haunted house. Some are mild walk-throughs suitable for ten-year-olds; others involve actors who make contact and carry a minimum recommended age. Ask the farm directly what age they recommend and whether actors touch guests before booking for a family with young children.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Many farms have moved to timed entry to control lines, especially on the two weekends before Halloween, when queues run longest. Check the farm's own site for whether tickets are timed and buy ahead if a specific night matters to you.
When do these haunted attractions run?
Typically evenings only, Friday and Saturday from late September through Halloween weekend, separate from the farm's regular daytime hours. Check the listings above or the farm's own site for the current schedule, since haunt nights are more limited than regular pumpkin-patch hours.